First earlier case of coronavirus Covid-19 happened on November 17, 2019, new China government records show

Contrary to the headlines in the mainstream media, the first case of coronavirus did not happen in late December 2019. According to a new report from the South China Morning Post, the first earlier case of coronavirus Covid-19 actually took place on November 17, 2019 when a 55 year-old from Hubei province contracted the virus, weeks before Chinese authorities announced the emergence of the new virus.

“The first case of someone in China suffering from Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, can be traced back to November 17, South China Morning Post reported, citing government data obtained by the news outlet. The Chinese authorities have so far identified at least 266 people who were infected in 2019, all of whom came under medical surveillance at some point.

According to the government data seen by the South China Morning Post, a 55 year-old from Hubei province could have been the first person to have contracted Covid-19 on November 17. Ever since the first case, one to five new cases were reported each day. By December 15, the total number of infections stood at 27 – the first double-digit daily rise was reported on December 17 – and by December 20, the total number of confirmed cases had reached 60.

Some of the cases were likely backdated after health authorities had tested specimens taken from suspected patients.
Interviews with whistle-blowers from the medical community suggest Chinese doctors only realized they were dealing with a new disease in late December.

The Chinese government was widely criticized over attempts to cover up the outbreak in the early weeks, including crackdowns on doctors who tried to warn colleagues about a new Sars-like virus which was emerging in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province.

The first known case of Covid-19 in China dates back to November, but the hunt for “patient zero” goes on.